Road crews are working mandatory overtime to fill potholes on Cincinnati streets. Mayor Aftab Pureval announced the extra work time Wednesday in response to a big increase in reported potholes.
So far this month, about 1,500 reports have come in, compared to less than 400 last February. The Public Services Department usually has two eight-hour shifts each week day; the mandatory overtime will be for additional shifts on the weekends.
Even with the extra shifts, Pureval says it will take time to catch up, partly because crews can't fill potholes when it's raining.
"It's gonna rain the rest of the week [and] we might have another snow event," Pureval said. "You can believe that once there's a respite from that weather and once conditions allow, we'll continue to be all hands on deck."
The same crews filling potholes will have to shift to snow removal and treating streets if another winter storm hits.
About 1,200 service requests are still active, out of the 2,200 potholes that have been reported since January 1.
"This is the highest number of complaints we've seen in over four years, and it's mostly a response to this most recent ice storm," said Interim City Manager John Curp. "Given the sudden increase in reports our crews are working faster than ever."
Curp and Pureval wouldn't say how long the mandatory overtime will be in place. So far this month, potholes have been filled in about six days on average, longer than usual but a better pace than this time last year.
How to report a pothole:
Call 591-6000 (staffed weekdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Visit
Download the Fix It Cincy! app
Watch the video below to see .
Watch fill a pothole from start to finish (Purcell Ave in Price Hill)
— Becca Costello is boosted 馃拤 馃彸锔忊�嶐煂� (@becca_costello)
This is using the more permanent "hot mix" asphalt, but a lot of potholes are being filled with a "cold patch" which is easier when the weather is cold but doesn't last as long.
